11. Two Months Later
Archer
It had been too long since I’d set foot in Creature Cafe, and it felt nice to visit. This was the other location in the city, but I smiled as I stepped inside, the familiarity wrapping me in a blanket of warmth.
Since being mated to Leni, I pretty much spent all my time on our island. We were visiting my family this weekend, and of course wanted to stop by one of the Creature Cafes. Leni was shopping at a little witchy place down the street and then would be joining me.
I’d heard rumors about Layla and Death and the rumblings happening in the monster world. People had been whispering about the new Grim Reaper and how she was already causing issues simply by existing.
I wasn’t scared of Layla, of course. More scared for her.
She was behind the counter working with Luca, and the energy felt chaotic and temperamental. I frowned as they helped two customers, but then Luca spotted me.
“Archer,” he said in surprise. “I didn’t expect to see you.”
“I’m in town visiting,” I said as I leaned my hip against the counter.
Layla had yet to look up at me. Her eyes were dark and it was impossible to miss the circles below them. Luca glanced over at her, his expression tightening.
Oof. Maybe things were worse than I’d thought.
“Are you both okay?” I asked. “Do you want to go chat in the back?”
“Yes, actually,” Luca said. He glanced at the door behind me, but then shrugged. “People can wait if they come in. Come on. Layla,” he called. “Break time.”
He put up a little fifteen-minute break sign, and I slipped behind the counter, following him to the back. Layla finished what she was working on then followed after us.
The cooler really was the unofficial meeting spot at Creature Cafe. The three of us stepped inside and I crossed my arms, facing them.
“Okay,” I said. “I feel like I should have checked in on you both sooner, I’m sorry.”
Layla ran her fingers through her thick red hair. “I meant to text you before, but I’ve been putting my head down and just working. Besides, you’ve been busy.”
“With your sexy mate.” Luca smirked.
“Luca,” Layla hissed.
“What? I have eyes. You have eyes. We all have eyes.”
“Believe me, I know how lucky I am,” I chuckled. “Leni is amazing. I love her so much.”
They both smiled, their expressions softening enough that I relaxed a fraction.
“I’m glad,” Layla said. But then hurt filled her eyes and she blinked, looking away.
“I haven’t found him again. I’ve tried. I’ve been trying.
I’ve cast spells and talked to witches and tried to match a couple monsters, but it didn’t work out.
Everything has been so . . . wrong. I’m just angry all the time. ”
“And not eating enough or drinking water,” Luca added, narrowing his eyes on her.
“I’m fine.”
“You’re depressed.”
“Like you fucking aren’t?”
I frowned at Luca. “Are you okay?”
His eyes turned distant, and I wondered what was haunting him. “I love our parents, but no one is listening to me about what I want. I’m not meant . . . Nevermind. I’m fine.”
He most certainly wasn’t. “Been there,” I sighed. “Although, I actually worked things out with my dad. He apologized. Everything has been much better since then.”
“Must be nice.” Layla crossed her arms, and I found myself staring at her. She really did look like the Barista when she did that.
“Have you not talked to him?” I asked.
“I mean, sort of,” she said. “Small words here and there. He’s tried. Multiple times. But I’m just so . . . I’m so furious. I don’t care how powerful Death is, if we were meant to be, why did he take away my fated mate?”
“Sometimes fate is wrong, Layla,” Luca said pointedly.
She shot him a dirty look. “It’s not anyone else’s decision.”
“Yeah, but Death—”
The cooler door suddenly kicked open and we jumped. Bell appeared, his eyes wide and face pale.
“Uh, hi Bell,” Layla said slowly. “You look sick.”
“Yes. No? Yes. Maybe? I knew you guys would be back here,” Bell said quickly. “Always back in the damn cooler.”
The cafe coolers were where the biggest decisions were always made.
“What’s wrong?” Luca asked. “Are you okay?”
Bell blew out a breath. “I’m getting a mate.”
“What do you mean you’re ‘getting’ a mate?” Layla asked, her eyes sharpening.
“Papa is going to match me—”
“Are you fucking joking?” Layla snarled.
Bell took a step back. His smile fell away. “I thought you’d be happy for me—”
“He literally cut my fated mate bond, Bell!” she yelled. “Fuck off.” Layla shoved past him and stormed out of the cooler, leaving the three of us speechless.
Luca rubbed his face, his shoulders sagging. “I’m sorry, Bell. She hasn’t really been okay the last few months.”
Bell didn’t say anything, but his cheeks were red. The instant hurt was sharper than a knife.
Luca pulled him into a big hug, holding him tight for a few moments. Bell’s eyes watered up as Luca rubbed the top of his head in a brotherly way.
“I’m so happy for you,” Luca muttered. “I am. This is great. I know you’ve wanted a mate for a while.”
“I have,” he whispered.
Luca squeezed him a little tighter and then released him. “Don’t hold this against Layla, okay? She loves you. She’ll be excited for you.”
“Okay,” he whispered.
“I’m going to head back up front. We should celebrate later.”
“Okay.”
Luca gave me an apologetic look and then left the cooler. Bell leaned against the wall and looked up at me.
“Sorry,” he mumbled.
My heart hurt for him. I left my spot and pulled him into a big embrace. He leaned his head against my shoulder and it felt like we were both kids again, harboring that feeling of being outcasts.
“Please don’t be sorry. I’m honestly hurt for you, that was . . . rough. Layla will come around. Anyway, this is amazing news.” I leaned back, putting my hands on his shoulders. “Truly. Also I am so curious about who your mate is. Or who they are.”
“Me too. Thank you. I just . . .” He drew in a sharp breath and exhaled slowly. “Fuck, man. I just want to be loved, you know?”
“I do,” I said. “It’s worth it. It’s worth all the trouble to be with the right person.”
“How has it been for you?”
“Leni is . . . everything I’ve been missing from my life.
She’s amazing and funny and smart and unbelievably sexy and genuinely a beautiful person, inside and out.
Whoever your mate or mates are, you deserve happiness.
” I pressed my lips together. “Our families love us. And we’re lucky—we have good parents.
We have good siblings. But that doesn’t mean it’s all been perfect and it also doesn’t mean people don’t make mistakes. ”
“I know Layla is hurting,” he said. “But I didn’t even think about that when I was told I had a date this week. I just wanted to tell her and Luca because they’re my brother and sister.”
“They know that,” I said seriously.
“Why the fuck is family so damn complicated?”
I sighed and slung my arm around his shoulder, leading him out of the cooler. “It always will be.”
“Yeah . . . Unrelated. Did you bring Leni with you for your little visit?”
I laughed. “If you hit on my mate, I will be obliged to murder you.”
Bell feigned an offended gasp. “I would never.”
“You absolutely fucking would, you scoundrel. I hope your mate leashes you.”
Bell barked out a laugh. “No, no. I’ll be the one doing the leashing.”
I smirked as we headed back to the front. I stole one more glance at Layla and Luca, who were already back to work, and sent up a silent hope that everything with my favorite monster family would turn out all right.
But, for now, I took comfort in the fact that I had my own happy ending.
The door to the cafe opened and my mate stepped inside, turning every head in the place, but her eyes were on me. I smiled and went to her, blushing as she tipped my chin up and kissed me.
“May I take your bags, Mistress?” I asked her.
“Yes, you may,” she said, letting me take all three of them. She eyed everyone in the cafe and then hummed. “Get our coffee to go, little demon.”
“Anything you want, Mistress.”
I’d give my mate anything she wanted. Anything she needed.
Forever.